When my web master insisted that I start blogging, I wasn’t sure what to write about.  He said write about what you know and the people who are meaningful to you. So, the first person who came to mind was my friend Christopher Lowell.  He’s a renowned designer who George and I had the pleasure of working with when he did a total makeover on our home some 15 years ago.

Christopher is one of the most talented individuals I have ever met – he can “do it all”.

His talents transcend many areas of creative activity that span a landscape few can fit into a lifetime. Christopher has written numerous books on lifestyle, design, cooking and entertaining. He is also an artist, actor, TV personality, accomplished pianist, and a motivational speaker. While redesigning our home we have become long-lasting friends and I consider Christopher not only my best friend, but also part of my family.

Since we now live on opposite ends of the country, I enjoy reading his blog and keeping up on what he is doing by visiting his web site, but he’s also just a phone call away.

There are many things about Christopher that the public is not aware of, from working in soup kitchens on Thanksgiving to his work helping sick children. Christopher just recently did a “mini” makeover on the Ronald McDonald House in St. Louis, Missouri. The finished room is so beautiful with its peaceful colors and the beautiful drapery, which adds a touch of warmth and softness to the room. The special touch of the attractive stuff animals is definitely a Christopher Lowell trademark putting the children’s needs first in decorating the room.

While working with Christopher and reading his books I have learned so much about design, color, use of fabrics and making our home a place of beauty but also a place of comfort. He is so intuitive with his clients and uses their personality and lifestyle in his design, which is evident in his redo of the Ronald McDonald Room.  A worried and stressed parent can find comfort in the warmth and total peacefulness while visiting with their child.

Christopher has embarked on a new venture, which will bring his talents to more people via the Internet than ever before. He is writing, producing, directing and performing in a new and revolutionary interactive website which allows him bring his ideas to the public without the filter and constraints of conventional TV productions. I can hardly wait for the launch of this new venture and I’m sure his fans feel the same.

Great work Christopher. You can always Do It!!

A long time dear, dear friend, Tommy Tune, is celebrating his 70th birthday today. Happy Birthday Tommy!

George and I met Tommy 44 years ago in Houston, Texas. I hate to think how old that makes us. But Tommy is happy to say he is now 70 and he is still as energetic as he was in his 20’s not to mention he looks Fabulous. We are so proud to say he is our friend and with all the fame and notoriety he has received all these years, he is the same innocent, honest and loyal person we knew back in 1966.

Tommy has had a long and successful career as a dancer, choreographer, director, and actor and in the recent years a very established painter. He is in the Broadway Hall of Fame, won numerous awards including nine Tony Awards in various categories such as performer, director and choreographer, thus placing him in the top category of Tony Award winners. He also was honored by President Bush with the U.S. Medal of Arts Award in which he honored us with an invitation to the award ceremony held in the White House. It was a memorable event for us.

However, we think of Tommy not as the Broadway celebrity, but as a genuinely sincere and thoughtful person who makes anyone he meets feel at ease. He loves people and never lets his fame get in the way of greeting people from all walks of life. Tommy has not changed in all these years.

He not only loves people, he is also an animal lover and is very concerned about the care and treatment of animals which endears him even more to me. He never fails to ask how our little Freddie is doing and laughs when he hears Freddie barking in the background during our phone conversations. His Yorkie, Little Schubert, is a constant companion wherever he goes.

We are very impressed with his second career as an artist. He has developed into an accomplished painter and his recent artwork includes striking works on animals and nature. You can view his art on his web site www.tommytune.com.

Tonight, on his 70^th birthday, Tommy is performing at the McCallum Theater in Palm Springs, California in a biographical musical about his life, “Steps in Time”. As usual, he has received rave reviews for his performance and the show.

Wish we were there tonight, but Tommy you are always in our hearts and mind. Have a wonderful 70th Birthday and many, many more!